Author: Rhys Gregory

A 22-year-old man has been jailed for violence against his partner. Fletcher Wright, of Benjamin Road, Wrexham, appeared before Mold Crown Court for sentencing today (Wednesday, November 6th) having admitted controlling and coercive behaviour, non-fatal strangulation and witness intimidation. He was jailed for three years and was also handed a restraining order to protect the victim lasting indefinitely. Whilst on police bail with conditions not to approach or contact the victim after an incident reported to police in January, he continued his controlling and coercive behaviour and physical violence, whilst also threatening to damage her property. Following further disclosures made…

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has announced significant plans to develop The Engine Room, its business centre on Hood Road in Barry. Proposals involve redesigning the main entrance to the building and enhancing communal spaces outside to include cycle parking and seating. The existing public car park will be extended and resurfaced, new signage installed and landscaping work caried out. Internally, the building will be decorated and reconfigured to boost its appeal. In 2021, the Council leased the adjoining former Train Shed building to local fitness business Brawd in the first step of creating new units for local businesses at…

Highly anticipated BBC drama ‘Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light’ features a star-studded cast including Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell, Damian Lewis as King Henry VIII, and eagle-eyed viewers might also spot Cardiff’s historic Castle. Following the last four years of Thomas Cromwell’s life as he completes his journey from self-made man to feared and influential political fixer, the final instalment of this award-winning drama series has been years in the making and some of that time was spent filming in and around the Castle’s Norman Keep. Castle Manager, Nicola Burrows, said: “We get lots of filming happening at…

RCT Council has provided planning consent for a street art mural to be created on Aberdare Library, as a fitting backdrop to the nearby Cynon Valley Armed Forces Memorial Garden. It will explore many themes, including remembering Armed Forces personnel, the civilian war time effort, the military, and the Cynon Valley’s heritage. The Local Planning Authority has granted consent, via a Delegated Officer Decision, for the Royal Welsh Comrades Association Aberdare Branch to professionally paint sections of the building’s south and east-facing walls (pictured, left). The group has been working with celebrated artist ‘Tee2Sugars’ to design the artwork, and the…

Wales is edging closer to being at the forefront of genomics after the NHS signed an ambitious new collaboration with a leading science technology company. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the NHS in Wales and Illumina will build on existing research into lung cancer diagnostics, with the ambition to further expand into other cancer types, and into wider areas of genomics with the aim of prevention, earlier diagnosis and personalised treatments. It will support efforts to improve the development of new technologies, clinical approaches and treatments, medicines, vaccines and services to support preventative care. The MoU has been signed…

Wales is home to a variety of land-based and online casinos, though one has gained more popularity due to innovative features that have boosted user engagement over time. Discover which type of casino Welsh players prefer, based on key criteria and trends. The casino industry is booming in Wales, with many land-based casinos offering roulette, video slots and classic table games that entertain players. However, online gambling is also gaining traction in Wales, as players can entertain themselves on a wider range of online casinos and sports betting platforms. In this article, we will explore the rise of online platin…

The iconic Palace Theatre building in Swansea has reopened its doors today (Thursday November 7) as Tramshed Tech’s newest location, marking a significant milestone in the city’s £1bn regeneration. The historic landmark – which dates back to 1888 – has undergone an extensive three-year restoration, led and funded by Swansea Council with an investment worth more than £6.9m from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns initiative. The carefully restored six-floor building now offers state-of-the-art workspaces designed to support tech, digital and creative businesses. Cherished architectural features have been maintained, including the decorative iron balcony, original Ebbw Vale brick, and restored floor tiles.…

Monmouthshire Building Society has reopened in Abergavenny, in a bid to bring branch services back to the high street. The Newport-based building society have opened their ‘Community Connect’ at the Market One-Stop shop on Cross Street. Monmouthshire Building Society Community Connect will be open on Tuesdays and Fridays, between 10am and 3:30pm, closing for lunch. Eve Wilkins, Chief Customer Officer at Monmouthshire Building Society, said: “As a regional building society, we are committed to remaining on the high street. “At a time when many banks and building societies are closing their doors, we are keen to provide services to as…

Wales’ leading full-service law firm, Hugh James, has raised a record  £29,000 for their charity partners Ty Hafan and Velindre Cancer Care at their annual Rugby Lunch fundraiser. Over 180 guests attended Cardiff’s Parkgate Hotel to support the firm’s flagship fundraising event, hosted once again by three-time Grand-Slam winner and former Welsh rugby captain, Ryan Jones. Joining this year’s lineup of special guests were Cardiff Rugby and former Wales captain Ellis Jenkins, and former Wales and British and Irish Lions player, Adam Jones, who over the course of the Q&A shared their thoughts on the upcoming Autumn Internationals, as well…

Innovate UK’s South West Wales Launchpad has announced a new pot of up to £1 million for innovative projects in parts of the South Wales Industrial Cluster. Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has announced that it is working with Net Zero Industry Wales (NZIW) and Welsh Government to invest up to £1 million in innovation projects in South West Wales. The funding, which represents a third round following the success of MFA Round 1 and New Innovators Round 2, is being provided by Innovate UK’s Launchpad programme. The Launchpad programme is aimed at supporting clusters of…